Nepal Parliament obstruction continues

Belying hopes of breakthrough to resume proceedings of the Parliament, the three major political parties on Sunday failed to reach agreement after claiming they were close to it. As a result, the opposition parties obstructed Parliament for the 10th straight day.

Speaking in the Parliament after the talks ended inconclusively, Bijay Gachchhadar of Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (Democratic) accused the ruling coalition of breaching a previous agreement on a number of issues, including forming a high level political committee (HLPC) comprising of political parties.

When Mr. Gachchhadar said NC President and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and other ruing party leaders should go to Sarnath in India if they failed to deliver a Constitution, the ruling MPs objected to his remarks. With neither side relenting, Speaker Subas Nembang, adjourned the House.

The leaders would resume negotiation on Monday. The stalled proceeding of the Budget session has prevented any pre-budget discussions.

According to Madhav Nepal of the CPN-UML, who participated in the three-party talks to end the Parliament deadlock, “the UCPN (Maoist)’s insistence on permanent convenorship of high level political committee (HLPC) prevented any deal.”

Mr. Nepal said the Nepali Congress and his party are in favour of rotating leadership of the HLPC.

At the meeting, CPN-UML leaders opposed the UCPN (Maoist) demand to lead the body that is seen as a forum to give some role to the leaders of the parties who suffered heavy defeat in the second Constituent Assembly (CA) election in November last year. The HLPC was formed in March last year when an interim technocrat government was formed under the chairmanship of Supreme Court Chief Justice, Khil Raj Regmi. The HLPC was supposed “guide” an apolitical government in its efforts to conduct the election and in governance.

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